An Ohio dissolution requires a joint petition and a complete separation agreement, supported by the financial and family information required by the court. Cases involving children need additional parenting, insurance, and support paperwork. A signed agreement alone does not replace the petition or the court proceeding.
Start with the current court packet and the records needed to complete it accurately. The firm’s Dayton dissolution services address preparation and review of a proposed agreement, including terms that standard forms may not adequately resolve by themselves.
Confirm there is a complete agreement to document
R.C. 3105.63 requires both spouses to sign the petition and agree to the attached separation agreement. The agreement must account for property, spousal support, and the required child-related matters when applicable.
Before filling in forms, list all assets and debts and the proposed treatment of each. Identify unresolved decisions about the home, retirement, support, and parenting. If a required issue remains disputed, the packet is not ready for dissolution simply because both spouses want the marriage to end.
Identify the core statewide forms
The Supreme Court of Ohio publishes a dissolution-without-children form set. It lists these core documents, while directing readers to check local procedures:
| Document | Purpose | Information to have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Form 17: Petition and Waiver of Service of Summons | Jointly requests dissolution and addresses service | Marriage details, residences, signatures, attached agreement |
| Affidavit 1: Basic Information, Income, and Expenses | Discloses financial circumstances | Earnings, benefits, household spending |
| Affidavit 2: Property and Debt | Identifies assets and obligations | Account values, ownership history, current balances |
| Form 19: Separation Agreement | Records the settlement terms | Specific allocations, payment terms, transfer obligations |
| Form 18: Decree of Dissolution | Proposed final court entry when locally required | Terms consistent with the petition and agreement |
Form numbers in a local packet may differ. Match the document’s purpose, not only its number, and use the version required or accepted by the filing court.
Add the documents needed for children
The Supreme Court’s dissolution-with-children forms add the Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, Health Insurance Affidavit, and a Shared Parenting Plan or Parenting Plan as appropriate. The child-support calculation and required support orders also need attention under the local packet.
- Gather the children’s residence history and information about prior custody or support proceedings.
- Identify the proposed school-year, holiday, vacation, and exchange schedule.
- Document each parent’s income, childcare expenses, and health-coverage information.
- Explain how medical bills, insurance, and other specified expenses will be handled.
Do not choose a plan only because its title sounds cooperative. The plan must match the actual allocation of responsibility. For agreement details beyond this paperwork inventory, see dissolution agreements involving children.
Build a supporting records folder
Keep recent pay records, relevant tax returns, bank and retirement statements, deeds, mortgage balances, insurance information, and debt statements available. For a premarital asset or inheritance, preserve records showing its source and transfer history. Do not describe an estimate as a verified balance.
These records support accurate affidavits and settlement review; they are not automatically all public filing attachments. Follow instructions about confidential information, redaction, and the court’s required forms. Use account identifiers only as directed and keep complete source records securely.
Follow Montgomery County’s local review process
The Montgomery County court’s dissolution process guide links local form assistants for cases with and without children and explains submission for compliance review. It describes notarization and correction steps before the case proceeds. Follow the current instructions, including how the court will contact you and where to submit the packet.
Ask whether local support-service applications, worksheets, proposed entries, or parenting-education requirements apply. A statewide packet is a starting point, not proof the local filing checklist is complete. Confirm the current deposit or applicable hardship process rather than relying on a price from another county.
Check implementation documents before the hearing
An agreement awarding property may still require a deed, vehicle-title paperwork, or an appropriate retirement-division order. The Department of Labor’s retirement-division guide explains why qualified plans require compliant orders. Different retirement systems have different requirements.
Check that names, values, payment dates, and parenting provisions agree across the documents. Identify who prepares each transfer document and when. Keep the hearing notice and bring the materials the court requests; neither a completed online form nor compliance review alone ends the marriage.
Firm information: See the Dean Edward Hines attorney profile.
This is general Ohio legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.